This Super-Healthy Green Smoothie Is Tasty Enough to Drink Every Day

A few years ago I got a Vitamix. I was so excited to make smoothies, but at the same time, I was overwhelmed with options. Do I use spinach or kale? Bananas or apples? How about pineapple, celery, cucumber, or carrots? Flax, chia, or hemp seeds? Do I need coconut water or almond milk? Parsley? Lime juice? Cacao? Ugh! There are way too many options! After a few months, thanks to the paradox of choice, I stopped making smoothies all together. If it’s not quick and simple, I’m just not going to do it — sad but true. So, I had to ask myself, “What is my purpose with a smoothie?” It was pretty simple: lots of greens, little sugar, and delicious taste. Hmmmm, I can do that. Here’s what I came up with…

Ingredients

3 handfuls spinach (plus some kale)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 or so cup water

1/2 green apple

5-6 drops stevia (or 1/2 to whole banana if you prefer)

2 big ice cubes

1/3 cup almond milk, unsweetened

Instructions

Blend the greens (spinach/kale), lemon juice, and water on the highest speed for about 1 minutes.

Add in the ice, stevia (or banana), almond milk, and apple. Blend for another minute or so.

Enjoy!

This makes about two small glasses worth.

I’ve been drinking this at least five days a week, and so far, so good! I keep it simple by doing things like storing my kale in the freezer and using jarred organic lemon juice from Whole Foods. My son now loves this smoothies and drinks them with me. As for me, I’ve come to crave it every day single. My goal was five days a week, but I’ve been doing seven just because it makes me feel so good. It’s easy to make, and I love the taste.

Landria Voigt, C.H.H.C., is the Nutritional Consultant and Public Speaker at Dr. Taz’s Atlanta Center for Holistic & Integrative Medicine office. She is a graduate of The University of Georgia and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She is author of the the book Super Paleo Snacksas well as the popular family and nutritional blog Stir It Up! where she shares her healthy recipes aimed at pleasing even the most finicky of palates, as well as forward-thinking ideas about nutrition.